Bottle carrier



' Euganee. 24. 1949 June 26, 1951 v M. wlLLlMsN 2,558,713 j VBOTTLE CARRIER v `5 Sheets-She'et l Mms/14u w/LL/A M50/v 1 nl. rra/Mns June 26,1951 *Y l M. l. wlLLlA-Ms-ON 'K y2,558,713-

' v BOTTLE CARRIER INVENTOR. I

MARSHALL l. lV/l//IMSO/V AUST/N, WILHELM CARLSON #rw-A 5. luMlJ-Q ad ATTORNEYS M. I. WILLIAMSON BOTTLE CARRIER June 26, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed nec. v24; 1949 l v Fig. 5

INVENroR. Mms/mu w/u/AMso/v June 26,' 1951 l l` lywlLLlAMsoN 2,558,713

v Bo'nLE CARRIER 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed bec. 24, .1949

INVENroR. MARSHALL w/u/AMJON m" Ausw/v, w/HHM' a cA/usof/ AL. Troni/sys June 25, 1951 M. l. WILLIAMSON 2,558,713

BOTTLE CARRIER 'Filed Dec. 24, 1949 5 sheets-sheet 5 INVENTOR.

MARSH/m w/u/AMso/v BY v LML. ATTo/P/vf v5 bent wire.

UNITED STATT-:s rT-.ISNT OFFICE BOTTLE CARRIER Marshall I. Williamson, New Haven, Conn., as

signor to National Folding Box Company, Inc., New Haven, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application December 24, 1949, Serial No; 134,888

This invention relates to improvements in carriers made from foldable sheet material, such as paperboard, for packaging a plurality of bottles, cans, jars, or similar articles as a unit which may easily be stacked by the dealer, carried home by the consumer and which, in addition, provides protection for the packaged articles.'

Carriers of the aforementioned type are popularly referred to as bottle carriers, and'this term will be used hereinafter for convenience, although it is plain that a carrier for bottles is equally useful for the packaging of cans, jars, and similar articles of merchandise.

The commonly known bottle carriers may be divided into two groups, a rst group comprising those carriers in which the handle forms an in-A tegral, or non-detachable, part of the carrier body, and a second group comprising those carriers in which the handle constitutes a separate element which 'may be attached to, or detached from, the carrier body.

Carriers equipped with an integral handle generally have the disadvantage of requiring more stock than carriers within second group.

Also, the desirable feature of having a handle which extends above the tops of the bottles for convenient carrying and which is depressible below the tops of the bottles to permit stacking of loaded carriers complicates the construction and increases the cost of the carrier.

Carriers with a detachable handle have be.

come popular in recent years because of certain advantages. the carrier body and, secondly, the assembly of the carrier body is generally simpler and less expensive than the assembly of a carrier body with an integral handle. Prominent among carriers with a detachable handle are those in the handle can be made to telescope'to 'move out of the way for the purpose of stacking loaded carriers. l

However, the cost of Wire handles 'is so high as to make their use prohibitive for one-tripcarriers, and often uneconomical for carriers which make only a few round trips between the bottler and the consumer. In addition, the cost Firstly, less stock is required for of each wire handle mounts, in effect, every time it must be detached from a used carrier body and reassembled with a new carrier body. Another factor inuencing the average costof the wire handle is the fact that a certain percentage of handle equipped carriers are not returned, but are lost. 1

The present invention provides a carrier `fall- 4 Claims. (Cl. 224-448) ing vwithin the second of the aforementioned groups. 'I'he principal feature ofthe invention is the provision of a strap handle offering the same advantages as the conventional wire han` dle, but having the additional advantage of costing only fraction of the cost of a wire handle.

Strap handles incorporating the present invention are conveniently made from paperboard. The board may, but need not necessarily, be reinforcedwith fabric or other reinforcing material, if the handle is to support an unusually great load or is to be usedv under unusually unfavorable conditions.

yThe ideav of equipping a bottle carrier with a strap handle is basically not novel. Strap handles made from paperboard have previously been proposed for bottle carriers. known strap handles, as far as can be ascertained, were constructed in such a form and were attached to the carrier body in such a way, as to become detached too easily.

The present invention is'based on the recognition that the strength of the board used in a lstrap handle must be utilized in a most advantageous manner, if the handle is to remain securely attached to the carrier body, not only under ordinary conditions of use, but also under conditions of abuse, to which bottle carriers are frequently subjected'. The strap handle provided by the present invention may be attached to any carrier body equipped with a plurality of transverse bottle separating top webs extending from one side wall of the carrier body to the other side wall, or from one side wall to a center partition and thence to the other side wall. The engagement of the strap handle provided by the present invention with the top Webs is such that the strap handle engages the webs along the bottom edge of the Webs, the handle being folded at the bottom edge and so constructed that unfolding under the load of. the-body is prevented.

The invention will be specifically explained by reference to a particularly advantageous form of carrier body forming the subject matter of a separate copending application forLetters Patent of Marshall I. Williamson, Serial Number 157,195, filed April 21, 1950. The carrier body comprises transverse Webs constructed in such a way as to provide truss structuresV of extraordinary strength capable of distributing the total load evenly over the entire side walls of the carrier, and preventing concentration of the load at isolated transfer points to the handle, in distinction from conventional carriers equipped with Wire handles which provide a point-to-point type of engagement between handle and body, rather than an engagement of the edge-to-surfacel type. The improved strap handles provided by this invention are equally useful for .carrier bodies in which the transverse webs are However, the

applied to an illustrative form of carrier body.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the characteristic features of the invention which are believed to be novel will be particularly pointed out in the claims apfrom which a carrier body may be made;

Figure 2 is a plan view of a blank of Figure 1 after an initial gluing and folding operationv resulting in a ilat tubular structure;

' Figure 3 is a perspective view of the blank of Figure 2 after `expansion into hollow form;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the expanded blank of Figure 3 in the process of formation of its cellular 'top web structure;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the completed carrier body after formation of its top web structures;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the completed carrier body shown in Figure 5; f

Figure 7 is an elevational side view of the carrier body shown in Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a plan view of a at blank fro which a strap handle may be made;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the strap handle of Figure 8 attached to the carrier body of Figure 5; and

Figure 10 is a perspective view ofthe strap handle attached to a six cell carrier having a center partition.

In the following description and in the claims various detalls will be identified by specific names for convenience. The names, however, are inl tended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit. Corresponding reference characters refer to corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of, this specification certain specific disclosure of the invention is made for the purpose of explanation of broader aspects of theinvention, but it is understood that the details may be modified in various respects without departure from the broad principles of the invention and that the invention may be applied to other structures than the ones shown.

The blank A as shown in Figure 1 may be cut and scored, in multiple, from large rolls or sheets of foldable sheet material such as paperboard, on automatic cutting and scoring machines. The several constituent parts of the blank are set apart by fold or crease lines. The blank com-v prises a side wall panel II, a top wall panel I2, a further side wall panel I3, a bottom wall panel I4 and a glue lap I5 hingedly interconnected along fold lines I6, I1,- I3, and I3, respectively.

dividual compartments for bottles or other forms of merchandise. Cuts 22, 23 and 24 extend at right angles to the fold lines It and I1. These cuts separate the stock into webs 25, 26, 21 and 23 which after appropriate folding form article vreceiving cells as will later appear.

The webs are foldable at a plurality of fold lines. These fold lines include diagonal or oblique fold lines 23, 36, 3|, 32, 33 and 34 extending from short terminal cuts 35, 36 and 31 to the transverse fold line I1 at an angle. Similar diagonal fold lines 38, 33, 40, 4I, 42 and 43 extend from similar short terminal cuts 44, 45, and 46 to the transverse fold line I6 and preferably include between themselves the same angles as the fold lines 23, 36, 3l, 32, 33, and 34. The webs 25 and 23 constitute terminal webs since they lie at the outer edges of the blank. The webs 26 and 21 constitute intermediate webs. These intermediate webs comprise ridge fold lines 41 and 48 to provide for double ply thickness of the intermediate webs, as will later appear.

Folding of the -web structure is facilitated by a plurality of crease lines 43, 43', 50, 50', 5I, 5I', 52, 52', 53, 53', 54 and 54'. These crease lines subdivide the several webs into individual web portions. It is evident that the angles at which these crease lines intersect, as well as their outline, depends on the width of the panel I2 measured between the fold lines I6 and l1 as well as the depth or height of the respective webs in the finished carrier body. Further transversev fold lines 55 and 56 extend across the blank to facilitate folding of the webs as will later become apparent.

Triangular panels 51, 53, 59, 60 and 6I, 62, 63 and 64 extend with their apexes from either end of the ridges of the webs. These ridges, as will later appear, are formed by the ridge fold lines u41 and 43 and by the outer edge portions of the outer edges 65 and 66 of the blank A. The triangular panels are bounded by the transverse fold linesll and I5, respectively, forming the bases of the triangles, and by further fold lines 61, 63, 63, v1li, 1I, 12, and 13, 14, 15, 16, 11 and 13, forming the sides of the triangles.

The assembly of the carrier body from the blank A may proceed as follows:

Adhesive a is first applied to the terminal glue lap l5 and the blank is folded about the fold line I3 to bring the panel I4 face-to-face with the panel I3. Thereafter the blank is folded about the fold line I6 and the terminal portion of the panel II is pressed into adhesive engagement with the glue lap I5. The resulting tubular structure A is shown in Figure 2 and is ready for expansion into hollow form. Flat tubular blanks may be stored and shipped to the user in fiat collapsed condition, requiring a` minimum of space and may be set up into final form by a relatively simple assembly operation which may be performed at the bottling plant. These operations will now be described.

rlhe tubular blank A is rst squared to assume a substantially rectangular shape as shown in Figure 3. Article receiving cells 13, 33, and 3l are then formed, and the blank is fixed in expanded position by exertion of force in the direction of arrows F against the several web panels 25, 26, 21 and 23. This force causes the web panels to move towards a vertical position with respect to the bottom panel I4. Simultaneously the ridges 65, 41, 43 and 66 are raised and the triangular panels 51, 53, 53, 66 and 6I, 62, 63 and 64 assume a slanting position as shown in Figure ent in the illustrated structure which may be compared to the action of the commonly known over-center spring which snaps into one or the other of two extreme positions after being forced past its center position. A center position is encountered in the present assembly between the positions of the edges I6 and I1 in Figures 4 and 5 respectively, and the aforementioned supplemental pressure exerted against these edges causes the web assembly to snap into the position shown in Figure 5.

The carrier body thus formed is extremely rigid and resistant to deformation due to the truss-like construction of the webs dividing the cells 19, 88 and 8| from one another.

Figures 6 and 7 show the completed carrier body in plan view and in end view, respectively. It is apparent from both figures that the side walls and I3 have a tendency of sloping inwardly at about the height of the webs, and this inward slope then continues, in the manner of a mansard roof, in the triangular panels from whose apexes the horizontal ridges 65, 41, 48 and 66 extend.

The resulting carrier body possesses a surprising amount of strength and rigidity to a lifting force applied at the lower edges of the bottle separating webs, particularly to the webs 26 and 21 which are of double ply thickness. This peculiarity makes the carrier body admirably suited for use with a strap handle which will now be described.

Referring to Figure 8 the fiat blank B of a strap handle consists of a central hand grip portion 82 and end portions 83 and 84. The ends of the blank B are bifurcated at 85 and 86 to form branches or prongs 81, 88, 89 and 98. Each branch or prong includes a barb 9|, 92, 93 and 94 equipped with an abutment edge 95, 96, 91 and 98 for engaging a cooperating edge on the carrier body for the purpose of locking the handle in place.

The central portion of the blank B vmay include a plurality of scores 99 to facilitate subsequent iiexing of the handle into U-shape. However, the scores 99 are not indispensableand may be omitted. The end portions 84 and 85 are articulated to the central portion 82 along fold lines |08 and |8|.

The blank B is made from paperboard, preferably board having substantial tear strength. Kraft is suitable stock for the handle and the grain should preferably run lengthwise of the handle. Ordinarily it can be used in single ply strength without any reinforcement. However, if the handle is to be used under particularly unfavorable conditions, if the load is exceptionally great, or if it is desired to use stock of lower grade for the handle, the blank B maybe made of laminated stock particularly stock including a fabric ply. I

The shape of the blank B is optional. It may be made of equal width throughout, or, as shown in Figure 8, the central portion may be made progressively narrower for more convenient gripping of the strap by hand. In the latter case the handle blanks may suitably be laid out in a continuous strip of board in such a way that the wider end portion of two handle blanks lie adjacent the narrow portion of an adjacent handle 75 blank. It is preferable, although not necessary. to make the intermediate portions 83 and 88 of a width substantially equal to the width of the panels 26 and 21 of the Webs, as measured between the fold lines 55 and 56.

'I'he assembly of the strap handle B with the .carrier body A" is simple and may be performed easily flexed towards each other during insertion and subsequently expand to engage the ends of the apertures 28 and 2| with their abutment edges 85, 96, 91 and 98 preventing withdrawal from the apertures.

The assembled handle is shown in perspective in Figure 9. The handle is very secure, and comparable in strength and load carrying capacity to the best conventional wire handles in spite of its far lower cost. For convenience of stacking loaded carriers the handle may be depressed into a position below the tops of bottles in the carrier. Pressure against the top of the handle causes the handle to flatten out slightly at the top. This deformation, however, does not cause the handle to become disengaged from the transverse webs 26 and 21 because of the presence of the arrowhead-shaped ends. The end portions of the handle 85 and 86 are maintained in their handle securing position by the barbed ends of the handle which serve the sole purpose of maintaining the ends of the handle folded, but do not take part in carrying of the load which is borne at the folds |88 and I8|. The pressure of bottles or other articles within the pockets 19, 88 and 8| bearing against the handle end portions 63 and 84imake it also impossible for the handle to become disengaged from the carrier body under load. This is a safety feature of the handle construction.

Strap handles of the type shown in Figure 8 are not limited in their use to carriers in which bottles or other articles of merchandise are carried in single le, but are equally useful for carrier bodies of the double row type.

A carrier for six bottles, cans, or similar articles is shown in Figure l0. The construction of the carrier body |82 is very similar to that of the carrier body A" except for the presence of a center partition |83 which divides the space provided between the webs |25, |26, |21 and |28 into six cells. The Webs |26 and |21 are of double ply thickness and include apertures similar to the apertures 28 and 2| in the carrier body A". One of these apertures is visible at |28.

The handle |84 is substantially of the same outline as the handle B except for the length of the bifurcations |85 and |86 which extend considerably beyond the fold lines 288 and 28| into The invention thus'provides a strong and`eillcient handle for carriers comparable in strength to the best wire handles heretofore proposed.

.The improved strap handle can be produced at a traction of the cost of a wire handle, and rests in the hand of the user more comfortably than a wire handle because of its larger grip surface. It has the advantage over the wire handle of engaging the carrier blank along the extended bottom edges of the webs rather than ,at isolated points of engagement as would be the case if a wire handle were used.

The carrier is considerably more reliable than any paperboard carrier with strap handle heretofore proposed in that its stength is not ailected by swinging or rocking the loaded carrier about the point at which the handle is gripped by the user. The strength of the handle in this respect arises from the fact that the load is carried at creases of the handle and not at inter-locks, cut edges, or projections which provide an edge-toedge rather than edge-to-surface engagement. This is a critical diierence over known carriers which are extremely sensitive to such rocking which tends to disengage lock tabs at the ends of 25 the strap handle from the carrier body. The present design avoids this weakness by critical changes of design without complicating the -assembly of the carrier and handle or increasing their cost.. Y

What is claimed is:

1. A bottle carrier comprising a carrier body consisting of a sheet of foldable material and including a bottom wall, side walls, and bottle separating top webs extending substantially at right angles with respect to the side walls and to the bottom wall, certain of said webs having an aperture therein; and a handle consisting of a separate strip of foldable sheet material, said handle including a central hand grip portion ilexed substantially in the shape of an inverted U, and an end portion articulated to either end of the central portion and foldable back upon the central portion and about one of said webs so that the web rests in the fold between the central portion and the folded back end portion, said end portion being insertable into said aperture and having substantially arrow head oonguration including a. locking edge engaging an edge of the said aperture and resisting withdrawal of the end portion from said aperture by downward pressure upon the central hand grip portion.

2. A bottle carrier comprising a carrier body consisting of a sheet of foldable material and including a bottomV wall, side walls, and bottle separating top webs extending substantially at right angles with respect to the side walls and to the bottom wall, certain of said webs having an aperture therein; and a handle consisting of a separate strip of foldable sheet material, said handle including a central hand grip portion flexed substantially in the shape of an inverted U, and an end portion articulated to either end of the central portion and foldable back upon the central portion and about one of said webs so that the web rests in the fold between the central portion and the folded back end portion, said end portion being bifurcated at its end, the bifurcated portion being wider than said aperture and being insertable into said aperture upon ilexing of the two branches of the fork towards each other, the bifurcated portion including a pair of locking edges engaging an edge of said aperture and resisting withdrawal of the end portion`from said aperture by downward pressure on the central hand grip portion.

3. A bottle carrier comprising a carrier body consisting of a sheet of ioldable material and including a bottom wall, side walls, and bottle separating top walls extending substantially at right Y ulated to either end of the central portion and Ioldable back upon the central portion and about one of said webs so that the web rests in the fold between the central portion and the folded back end portion, said end portion being bifurcated at its end, the bifurcated portion being 'wider than said aperture and being insertable into said aperture upon ilexing of the two branches of the fork towards each other, the biiurcated portion including a pair of locking edges engaging an edge of said aperture and resisting withdrawal of the end portion from said aperture by downward pressure on the central hand grip portion. f

4. A bottle carrier comprising a carrier body consisting of a sheet of ioldable material and including a. bottom wall, side walls, a central partition substantially parallel to, and between, the

side walls, and bottle separating top webs extending substantially at right'angles with respect to the side walls, the partition and the bottom wall, certain of said webs having an aperture therein; and a handle consisting of a separate strip of foldable sheet material, said handle including a central hand grip portion flexed substantially in the shape oi' an inverted U, and an end portion articulated. to either end of the central portion and foldable back upon the central portion and Aabout one of said webs so that the web rests in the fold between the central portion and the folded back end portion, the end portions and the central portion adjacent the end portions being bifurcated, the bifurcated end portion being wider than the said aperture and being insertable into said aperture upon flexing of the two branches of the fork towards each other, the two branches .of the fork lying on opposite sides of the central partition, the biiurcated end portion including a pair of locking edges engaging an edge of said aperture and resisting withdrawal of the end portion from said aperture by downward pressure on the central hand grip Portion.

MARSHALL I. WILLIAMSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

